July 2024: Bring on the Monsoon Storms … and books and prizes
Stuff from Ann’s Brain …
It is Monsoon Season here in the desert Southwest which means glorious water from the sky on an arid landscape. Yay! The rain brings happiness for our plants and wildlife, but unhappiness for us humans in the form of high humidity, tons of beetles and mosquitos, worries about hail and lightning, and pop-up “yards” that can drive a weed-puller to madness.
Here are 8 facts about Arizona and Monsoon season that I found [online](https://wheninyourstate.com/arizona/8-facts-about-arizonas-monsoon-season-you-probably-never-knew/) from the When In Your State website:
* The monsoon season officially runs from June 15 to September 30. (JULY AND AUGUST SEEM TO BE THE BUSIEST MONTHS UP HERE IN THE PRESCOTT AREA.)
* Arizona receives approximately 31.5% of its total annual rainfall during the monsoon season, which is crucial for the region’s water supply and ecosystem. (SO FAR THIS YEAR WE’VE RECEIVED ABOUT 5 INCHES OF RAIN DUE TO MONSOON SEASON STORMS.)
* Nearly 500,000 lightning strikes occur during a typical monsoon season in Arizona. (A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SEVERAL HOMES AROUND US WERE HIT BY LIGHTNING STRIKES, AND ONE SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL FIRE DAMAGE DUE TO THE LIGHTNING HIT.)
* Monsoons can trigger massive dust storms known as “haboobs,” which can create walls of dust hundreds of feet high. (I HAVEN’T WITNESSED ONE OF THESE SINCE THEY HAPPEN DOWN IN THE DESERT AND WE ARE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOUT A MILE ABOVE SEA LEVEL.)
* The wettest monsoon on record in Phoenix occurred in 1984, with 9.56 inches of rain falling at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. (WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE ABOUT 10-12 INCHES OF RAIN DURING MONSOON SEASON UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA, WHICH IS QUITE A BIT MORE THAN THEY GET DOWN IN PHOENIX.)
* Monsoon storms can produce several hazards, including dust, wind damage, and flash flooding. (AND BIG BUGS AND SCORPIONS!)
* The monsoon season brings out unique desert wildlife, including Gila monsters and tarantulas, which become more active during periods of high humidity. (DID I MENTION THE HUGE BUGS THAT FLY AT YOUR HEAD IN THE DARK?)
* The distinctive “smell of rain” in the Sonoran Desert during monsoon season is primarily attributed to the creosote bush. (I MENTIONED THIS BUSH AND THE DESERT SMELLS IN MY JACKRABBIT JUNCTION SERIES, WHICH IS SET IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA.)
For more information about Monsoon Season, check out this Arizona State University website.
This month’s newsletter is short and sweet. Enjoy the free ebook and don’t forget to sign up for the July newsletter prize!
Hugs,
Ann
NOW IN PRINT!
Hip Deep in Bad Company (Deadwood Undertaker Book 5)
Grab your print book copy from our online store and we’ll not only autograph it, but we’ll also throw in some extra goodies!
Click here to go to Ann’s store.
BACK COVER COPY
I ran freight and wagon trains for years from Missouri to Santa Fe. Courted death from arrows to snake bites, drowning to dysentery, each and every trip. Came through all that only to be dealt a bad hand in Deadwood. Got myself killed.
Now the Grim Reaper is swinging for my boys, too. They’re men, actually, and I won’t let them end up dead like me. Same goes for their friends, Clementine the Amazon and Hank Varney.
First thing, we need to reckon with that smokey Egyptian devil. His no-good henchmen are searching for something underneath the streets of Deadwood. One thing’s for sure—it’s not gold.
Second, the Pinkertons tracked my boys all the way to the Black Hills. I figured they would, but hoped they wouldn’t. My boys will end up in jail yet.
Not so long ago, Deadwood seemed like a good place to set up a freight office, but now the Hills are hip deep in bad company. Sooner or later, the devils around here are going to kill us all. Well, not all, unless you can kill a fella twice.
“I’m a ghost. A specter, some would say. A spirit. A shade, the hallucination of a compromised mind. Whatever moniker you prefer, that’s me. Excepting that last one.” ~Uncle Morton_
OTHER BUY LINKS:
Amazon
US
Canada
Australia
UK
Barnes & Noble
US
AUTHOR STAR SPOTLIGHT: FREE Ebook Every Month!!!
Each month in 2024 I’m going to showcase an author friend who I think is quite wonderful. I’m going to tell you a little about her, in case you haven’t heard of this particular author yet, and then I’m going to include a special link in my monthly newsletter where you can go to get a FREE ebook from her.
There are already 12 authors lined up for this fun monthly treat for you newsletter subscribers, and they are each ready to share a FREE ebook to give you a chance to escape on the virtual pages with some of their favorite characters.
The star in this month’s spotlight is … Elizabeth Hunter!
July’s Wonderful Author is …ELIZABETH HUNTER. She is a USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family. She has published over thirty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
Click **HERE** to head over to Elizabeth’s website so that you can learn more about her and her books!
♥♥♥
Sign Up to WIN WIN WIN!
Every month, I’ll be offering a chance to win a fun-filled gift pack containing different books and goodies.
* An autographed copy of the PROOF version of Deadwood Undertaker series book 5, _Hip Deep in Bad Company_ (only 5 of these were printed).
* An autographed copy of the Rawhide (ear
This month, to celebrate the release of the PRINT version of HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY, we have another prize pack from the Deadwood Undertaker series to win. This pack of goodies contains:
* An autographed copy of the PROOF version of Deadwood Undertaker series book 5, Hip Deep in Bad Company (only 5 of these were printed).
* An autographed copy of the Rawhide (early) version of The Backside of Hades.
* An autographed set of Deadwood Undertaker series magnets and Hip Deep in Bad Company cup magnet.
* Several Deadwood Undertaker series coasters.
* An autographed Boots-N-Hat zippered tote bag.
**To enter your name in the drawing for this gift pack:** Send me an email with your full name and mailing address to AnnCharlesAuthor@gmail.com : with “July Drawing” in the Subject line.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CINDY KANE FROM WAIKOLOA, HI ON WINNING THE JUNE PRIZE PACKAGE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE BOOK AND PROMO GOODIES. ~ANN
Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Here is another yummy recipe from the out-of-print 2020 Ann Charles MOON THE COOK cookbook, which Mark and Michelle Davis helped put together.
This month, Mark, Michelle and I decided to share a recipe from Aunt Zoe (of the Deadwood Mystery series)–stuffed mushrooms. Yummmm, bacon!
NOTE: This cookbook sold out in 2020, so for those of you who were unable to buy a copy from my Ann Charles online store before it was gone, now you’ll have access to some of the great recipes via my monthly newsletters.
Wrap Up
I’m writing …
At the moment I’m almost halfway through Deadwood Mystery series Book 14, Clocks & Clobbers in Deadwood. Some days I write a lot, some days I write a little. The key thing is that I write something and keep moving forward.
Also at the moment Sam and I are plotting book 6 in the Deadwood Undertaker series.
ALSO at the moment I’m reading/researching for book 3 in the Dig Site series.
OH, and ALSO… The Morgan sisters are whispering ideas for Jackrabbit Junction series Book 7 in my ear while I sleep, because I keep thinking about them.
Have a great August!
Ann
